Evaluation of Qualitative Outcomes after Surgical Intervention on Patients Affected by Arteriovenous Malformations

Arteriovenous malformations are abnormal tangles of blood vessels that cause irregular connections between arteries and veins. Rupture of arteriovenous malformations represents a frequent complication associated with a neurological impairment and physical disability.

We investigated the relationship among coping dimensions and overall quality of life (QoL), and health status after surgical intervention in 20 patients affected by arteriovenous malformations. Each patient was administered a battery of self-report questionnaires (Short Form 12 Health Survey Questionnaire, Brief COPE Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety).

We found that surgical treatment of arteriovenous malformations affected subjective well-being and emotional aspects. Coping ability influenced the QoL and the presence of anxiety and depressive symptoms. We found a significant correlation between depression and humor (r = -.47, P = .03) and between QoL and self-distraction (r = -.48, P = .03) and humor (r = .44, P = .05). In particular, humor was a significant predictor of mental health and physical health.

The presence of anxiety and depression was the cause of deterioration of QoL, even if psychological resources used to deal with the disease significantly modified the subjective perception of well-being. The evaluation of the impact of cerebrovascular disease on QoL should be a basis for planning and evaluating therapeutic and psychological rehabilitative interventions.